How to Select an Area Rug

Area rugs are becoming so popular in western cultures and in particular black rugs are now being used to make a distinctive style statement in the center of a room. Black rugs used to be hung on walls as they were thought to be too costly and of high quality to be placed on the floor. Now, aside from black, there are so many colors, designs, patterns, quality and styles to choose from it become overwhelming. It is very important you select the correct area rugs for your home no matter what the décor. You can choose from traditional to contemporary designs to achieve that perfect look.

Here are some tips that you can follow in order to select a great area rug.

1. Design. When selecting the design then think about the statement the rug will make in the room. Are you going to use it as a standalone rug or underneath a coffee table or other furniture? Select a rug that matches the other colors in the room so this way it will tie the room together.
2. Color. When you are looking for that perfect area rug for a room with light or dull colors then select a rug that is either black, dark brown or has a brown border. If you have not used black anywhere else in the room then this dark rug will look perfect in the room. Another tip would be just to choose your favorite color and add white to it. However, if you are looking for a rug or ways to make a room look more spacious then a white or soft colored wool rug is just what you need.
3. Size. If you are looking for an area rug for a bigger room then placing the rug in the middle of the room will define a room's space. Then you can place furniture around it and it should measure 4'x6' or 6'x8'. If you are looking for a rug to place on a hardwood or tiled floor then make sure that you are leaving at least eight inches of free space on all sides of the rug. A rug that measures 8'x11' or bigger is ideal for dining rooms, living rooms or family rooms. 3'x5' to 4'x6' is the perfect measurement for area rugs if you are looking to place them in a kitchen, bathroom, entrance or underneath a table. However, it is very important to remember that you should always choose a rug that you love and that catches your eye and do not choose a rug just because you think it will look right in the room.

Maintaining an Area Rug for Your Home

Gone are the days where a wool rug is just an item where household members wipe their shoes. Area rugs are a great accessory to decorate your home with. They can create unique and creative interior designs. They define, decorate, complement and emphasize room design and furniture.

If you have an area of carpet that has stains or is worn out an area rug can be the perfect covering for it. Often a stain either means you buy new carpet or you just live with it. Covering it with a beautiful new rug will not only mask the stain, it will make the area attractive and fresh looking. This is another reason why runner style rugs and round wool rugs are perfect for high traffic areas. They can cover any wear and tear that has accrued on the carpet.

Taking care of area rugs is quick and simple. Simply run a vacuum over the top of the rug. When you are through with that flip the rug over and vacuum the bottom side as well. This little trick will help get out any dirt or grime that has settled towards the bottom of the rug. This is another reason why area rugs make sense for highly walked upon areas, they are easy to clean. If you plan on having your carpet steam cleaned you should make sure that you don't have a wool or silk carpet. Wool can be cleaned by yourself but silk should only be cleaned by a professional. Synthetic materials will hold up to just about any cleaning machine.

Rugs will come in a multitude of sizes and styles. Choose a long rectangular rug for hallways. A round doorway style rug is perfect for an entryway. Square or slightly rectangular rugs work great for dining rooms, living rooms, and bedrooms. If you plan on placing any furniture over top of the rug make sure that it is large enough to hold all of the furnishings within its area. This will help keep the rug and place and guests won't trip over the edges as easy. It will also promote an even wear pattern.

Choosing a color won't be an easy task. Area rugs come in all kinds of colors and patterns. Traditional rugs will have intricate patterns, usually woven in gold on a maroon background. Newer styles will feature anything from pineapples to favorite cartoon characters. You should choose the style that best reflects your personality.

Persian Gabbeh Rugs

In the Persian language Farsi, the word Gabbeh means something raw or uncut. A Gabbeh is a traditional variety of Persian rugs woven for centuries and are known to be the world's best coarsely woven Iranian tribal rugs. Sometimes spelled as 'Gabbe', these hand-woven rugs have a size of at least 90 x 150 cm or larger and are characterized by an abstract design that relies upon fields of color and playfulness with geometry. Also an evident characteristic when it comes to Gabbeh rugs is its very thick pile woven in a relatively low knot density making it thicker than other Persian carpets. Almost exclusively knotted for personal use, these true nomadic rugs are fabricated by the woman's spirit and instinctive craftsmanship on their personal interpretations of life in art.

Made of natural hand-spun wool yarn, all of the different colors of Gabbeh rugs are created from natural plant dye. The Gabbe has a relative ease of production having less preciseness in pattern, small number of knots, etc. It is one of the less expensive variety of Persian carpets out in the market today.

The Persian Gabbeh generally falls into one of the following categories:

1. Amalehbaft Gabbeh - these type of rugs feature a medium weave in terms of coarseness and knots-per-inch. These category of rugs have lesser designs compared to the basic Gabbeh. However, these beautiful rugs have a tighter weave, shorter pile and plain simple patterns that are great for adding color to a room without the distraction of too many design elements.
2. Luribaft Gabbeh - Features a fairly short, fine weaved soft pile. Compared to the rest of the Gabbeh categories, the Luribaft typically have more complex, detailed design elements inspired by other classical Persian rugs. Similar to the Kashkoli type, these type of Gabbeh rugs are made of tightly woven, high-quality wool that give them a unique trademark gleam.
3. Baluch Sumak - is similar to the Gabbeh Sumak, being that it is also flat woven in its design. Although less colorful than the Gabbeh Sumak, the Baluch is a gracefully, fine-detailed rug, usually with beautiful tribal design elements.
4. Gabbeh Sumak - are not like the common pile rugs but are rather flat woven. The Gabbeh Sumak has its tribal designs colorfully woven directly into its foundation. Amazingly detailed and designed, such rugs as these Gabbeh Sumak are fairly inexpensive despite its stylish quality.
5. Kashkoli Gabbeh - also features a fine weave and fairly short, soft pile. Known to be similar with the Amalehbaft and the basic Gabbeh, the Kashkoli have a sparse but colorful geometric design. The quality of the wool and the tightness of the weave make these brilliant rugs a sheen that you must see in person to believe.

The Gabbeh rugs are usually woven on horizontal looms that can be quickly and easily assembled by the nomadic people of Southern Iran. Materials such as local hand-spun sheep wool and vegetable dyes are what make up a traditional Gabbeh rug. These ingredients are extracted from native plants and roots found in the Zagros mountain range. These are then formulated from traditional recipes that have been perfected throughout the centuries. A few example of the raw materials used are pomegranate skin, madder root, indigo and walnut husks. The rich texture that emphasize the Gabbeh rugs come from the irregularities in the dye and wool that result not in a pure color, but rather a collage of similar hues.

How to Care and Clean Persian Rugs

You've just invested in a beautiful Persian rug. Even though they are durable, they still need to be properly cared for and cleaned. A well maintained rug will last indefinitely. Let's look at some standard care tips.

General Care

1. Don't forget the padding - get a quality padding to place under your rug. Padding is for more than slippage. It will extend the life of the rug by providing a supportive base that will allow the rug to breathe. A good pad can extend the life of your rug. It protects against dirt, wear and wrinkling specially in high traffic areas.
2. Rotate once a year, at least. This one will depend on where your rug is located. Try to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and high traffic areas. If the carpet is getting a lot of wear, consider rotating it every six months.
3. Vacuuming. Wool is porous and it holds a lot of dirt. Regular vacuuming is essential. Always vacuum with the pile. To determine the direction of the pile, run your hand across the pile from fringe to fringe. The smooth side is the pile. Use the suction attachment or the bare floor setting as a rotary brush may cause added wear. Also, once a year, flip the rug and vacuum the back.
4. Moths. Moths can do some serious damage to your rug. Check the back regularly for infestation. Moths are common in rugs that are in hidden in the dark, such as under a bed.
5. Storage. If you need to store your rug for an extended period of time, roll it tightly into a cylinder. Don't forget to mothproof it first. Cover with kraft paper. Then wrap the rolled rug in Tyvek®, which is water resistant and breathable. Do not use plastic as it will not let the rug breathe and could lead to mildew. Store in a dry, cool well ventilated area. Don't make the mistake of storing it in your attic, or in the rafters of your garage.

Cleaning
Simple, use a professional. This is not a job for a do-it-yourselfer. Consult your phone book for a reputable place. Plan on having it cleaned every 1-3 years, depending on the amount of traffic.

Spills
Clean them up immediately. Don't wait for the company to leave. Work from the outside of the spill to the center so as not to spread it. If you've got a stain, be cautious with using commercial spot removers, as they could damage your rug. If you do use one, test it first, if at all possible.